The Cincinnati Bengals have the most effective trio of large receivers within the NFL. They not solely have two professional No. 1 large receivers in Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, however additionally they have the most effective slot receivers within the NFL in Tyler Boyd.

This can doubtless be the final yr the three are collectively on the identical discipline in the identical uniform as Higgins and Boyd are each getting into the final years of their contracts, and there’s solely sufficient cash to maintain considered one of them in stripes, however it’s additionally potential the group may lose each of them in free company after the 2023 season.

Each outdoors receivers are coming off two consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns, and the offense is poised for a giant season in 2023. The potential Higgins extension has turn into considerably of a divisive topic currently. Whereas quarterback Joe Burrow’s extension is clearly a very powerful, there are a number of gamers up for extensions which are deserving, together with Higgins, Logan Wilson, DJ Reader, and others.

In keeping with The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., who did a deep dive on knowledge from when each Chase and Higgins performed with out the opposite, and what he discovered “partially swayed” his opinion on the potential $25 million per yr contract that Higgins is probably going trying to signal.

Dehner famous that the Bengals have been 3-1 after they missed Chase for 4 video games with a hip damage. The Bengals misplaced two of the three video games through which Higgins was unable to play. Utilizing the next two charts, Dehner got here to the conclusion that Chase’s anticipated factors per goal (EPA/goal) dropped from at 0.3 to a 0.08 when Higgins was not within the sport whereas Higgins’ EPA/goal rose from 0.32 to 0.39 when he performed with out Chase.

Clearly, with out Higgins within the sport, groups centered on Chase, retaining him in entrance of them always, limiting his explosive performs. Nevertheless, with out Chase, defenses tried to do the identical factor to Higgins, solely it wasn’t as efficient.

Dehner additionally identified that with out Chase, Higgins’s yards per route run was 2.46, tying him for fourth greatest within the NFL with Jaylen Waddle. Chase’s yards per route run when Higgins was out was 2.29, which positioned him twelfth within the league.

Dehner did say that he doesn’t consider that this makes Higgins a greater receiver than Chase.

“To be clear,” he wrote. “this date set doesn’t imply I’m arguing Higgins is a greater receiver than Chase. What Chase supplies on the sphere, his versatility, run after catch, consideration drawn and at instances unstoppable reference to Burrow tops any weapon on the complete Cincinnati roster. Full cease.”

Utilizing all of the date, Dehner concluded that Higgins makes Chase a way more environment friendly receiver when the 2 are on the sphere collectively, and that Chase isn’t the only real cause that Higgins has discovered success. He wrote that “Higgins brings and invaluable useful resource to not solely elevate his accomplice however supply an activated insurance coverage coverage ought to the offense must operate with out choice 1A.”

When you have been hoping the group may avoid wasting cash by letting Higgins go on the finish of the season, does this data change your thoughts?